Acupuncturist Salary
Acupuncturists earn a median $76,040 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
U.S. median
$76,040
$36.56 per hour
Range
$38,830 – $161,470
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
7,830
across the U.S.
Acupuncturist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$62,324
per year · effective tax rate 18.0%
$5,194Monthly
$2,597Twice a month
$2,397Every 2 weeks
$29.96Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,899
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,714
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,103
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$62,324
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,830 | $18.67 | $33,380 |
| 25th percentile | $55,380 | $26.63 | $46,678 |
| Median (50th) | $76,040 | $36.56 | $62,324 |
| 75th percentile | $102,280 | $49.17 | $80,784 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,470 | $77.63 | $121,631 |
Best cities for acupuncturists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $100,550 | $74,675 | $66,340 | 1,210 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $62,590 | $49,853 | $43,120 | 450 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $100,550
- San Francisco, CA — $62,590
Acupuncturist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $141,430 | $107,933 | $59,990 – $239,200+ | — |
| New Jersey | $125,260 | $91,092 | $73,110 – $187,360 | 240 |
| Indiana | $120,490 | $90,070 | $62,050 – $127,300 | 30 |
| Maryland | $101,650 | $75,876 | $52,020 – $115,500 | — |
| Massachusetts | $93,360 | $70,061 | $52,970 – $149,080 | — |
| Missouri | $89,000 | $68,196 | $45,330 – $144,840 | — |
| New York | $86,120 | $65,362 | $55,380 – $142,240 | 1,160 |
| Arizona | $85,300 | $66,915 | $35,350 – $114,980 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $85,130 | $65,857 | $85,130 – $101,880 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $84,820 | $65,386 | $63,240 – $107,240 | 170 |
| Washington | $83,200 | $67,361 | $75,350 – $139,930 | — |
| Maine | $83,040 | $62,807 | $45,070 – $134,570 | — |
| New Hampshire | $77,470 | $63,330 | $50,120 – $107,880 | — |
| North Carolina | $76,500 | $60,104 | $41,390 – $94,230 | 320 |
| California | $75,530 | $58,153 | $37,810 – $186,300 | 2,520 |
| Georgia | $73,980 | $57,658 | $23,800 – $99,360 | 140 |
| Florida | $69,990 | $58,068 | $36,570 – $198,010 | 900 |
| Minnesota | $69,690 | $54,641 | $39,990 – $134,570 | 210 |
| Texas | $66,530 | $55,634 | $31,470 – $90,420 | — |
| Michigan | $65,490 | $52,269 | $37,130 – $181,240 | — |
| Oregon | $64,870 | $49,457 | $51,740 – $104,000 | 360 |
| Hawaii | $64,570 | $50,685 | $64,560 – $102,740 | — |
| Utah | $58,620 | $47,609 | $58,480 – $88,270 | — |
| Colorado | $56,950 | $46,142 | $43,310 – $101,180 | — |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a acupuncturist make?
The national median salary for acupuncturists is $76,040 a year ($36.56 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,830 and the top 10% earn over $161,470. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays acupuncturists the most?
Tennessee has the highest median pay at $141,430. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many acupuncturists are there in the U.S.?
About 7,830 people work as acupuncturists nationwide.